Veneer press and the like



Dec. 1, 2 1,563,684

J. E. BLACK VENEER PRESS AND-THE LIKE Filed Jan. 2, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. E. BLACK VENEER PRESS AND THE LIKE Dec. 1 1925.

Filed Jan. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. E. BLACK VENEER PRESS AND THE LIKE Dec. 1 I 1925.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 1925 Dec; 1 1925- E J. E. BLACK VENEER PEEsE AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1, 1925. 1,563,684 J. E. BLACK VENEER PRESS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan.,2, 1925 s Sheeis-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

JOHN E; BLACK, OF. MENDOTA, ILLINOIS.

VENEER ANDxTI-IE LIKE:

Applicatienfiled January 2, 1925. Serial No. 220.-

Mendota, in the county of-La Salle' and State of'lllinois, have inventedcertain newand useful Improvements in Veneer Presses andith'e like, of which the; following; is a specification.

This invention haste do with certain improvements in veneerpressesand similar machines. It has-reference particularly to improvements in presses: for placing. the veneer boards under thedesiredeamount of' pressure and: then retaining said pressuresubstantially uniform forsuch length of time as may be necessary. to. insureiproper cementing of theveneer sheetstogether.

One of the objects of the invention istto provide a machine ofsuch construction-that the pressurewillrbe applied in increasing. amount up to the desired maximum pressure, whereupon the-pressurewill be retained at. the desireddegree, further increase -of presv sure being discontinued.

In connection Withthe above,.another tea-.- ture of. the invention relates to the provision of an electrically operatedipress wherein the pressure is: generated by the." use: of anelectric motor. As the pressure increases the load on this motor increases proportionately withcorrespondingproportionate increasein the amount of current usedby the motor; and byvthe use of-asuitable electric relay or trippingaswiteh, the-device may be so arranged that the circuit Will be opened when the pressure andcurrent reach the predetermined limit.-

A further, feature in connection with the above isthe provision of an arrangen'ient such that after the.- desired pressure has been established the pile of veneer boards may be locked togetherz so,as.to retain the entire pile under the desiredpressure. The locked. together pile may then. be; removed fromthe machine proper-and taken to a suitable point for storage during the dryingoperation, During; this drying. operation the pile itself, is retained locked together and under the full pressure. previously. estab lished in the veneer-press.

Still a further feature,- in connection with the above isv the provision of -ELI1- Ll HLP IQY6 l. form of base for supporting; theipile. veneer boards Within the machine Ipri 1 -t o and subsequent to -the pressing operations. This improved base is so arranged tha -t the pile of boardsmay be readily-shifted into place Within the machine frorna traclrway or carrier system leading up tetheimeehinei and is also so arranged that the compressing force. may be readily and: satisfactorily delivered from themachineto-thepile; in place.

Another feature. ofthe invention relates to=theprovision of an improved arrangement of transmission devices for communicating the movements between the operating motor and the press. In this connection one object is tqmake provision for ready reversal ofthe press heads, so; that aiter the P l o b r s asbeen Plac d r, P s: surethe press heads can be readilyreleased OF'VICG}, versa.

A further object in connection With. the above is'to provides;variable speed trans mission device whereby the-pressheads may be initially moved; towards each other at a. relatively rapid travel the transmission ratio being subsequently reduced when pres sure is being exerted on the pile, With corresponding increase of; the amount of pressure so exerted.

A further feature of. the invention relates to the provision of automatic tripping devices whereby asthe extre ne li nitsof movement of the pressheads are approached. the

device ill be tripped automatically so as to avoid over travel andalsoto avoid jam;

, ming or damage ,to the parts.

Another, feature relates to the provision of a suitable indicator such as an amineter for showing the amount of current beingdelivered to the motor, either. in terms of ai nperes 0r. pounds of pressure exerted on the pile ofxveneer boards.

Other objects and uses of the intention.

(ill

a of the lower will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a complete machine embodying the features of the present invention, illustrating a pile of veneer boards in place between the press heads;

Fig. 2 shows a plan view corresponding to Fig 1;

Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary detail section enlarged, on the line H of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the manner in which the pressure on the beams of the press heads may be equalized and twisting strains avoided;

Fig. 5 shows a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically an electric circuit for the motor and control devices of the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 to -l inclusive Fig. 7 shows a fragmentary transverse section on the line 77 of Fig 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, but on enlarged scale, and also illustrates a truck alongside press head by which the pile of material may be transported to or from the lower press head of the veneer press istelf; and

Fig. 8 shows a side view of a pile of veneer boards clamped together by the separate clamping devices extending between the upper and lower beams so as to retain the pile under pressure after removal from the veneer press itself.

The machine illustrated in the drawings includes a pair of end stands 11 and 12, respectively. Each of these end stands preferably comprise two pairs of vertical channels 13 and 14: facing each other, as shown in Fig. 3, and having the flat bars 15 and 16 within their channeled portions so as to give them added strength. The vertical posts thus built up are carried by the end pedestals 17 and 18, respectively.

Across the top ends of the posts at each end of the machine are the horizontal flat bars 19 which serve to establish a platform for the support of column bearings 20 and 21, respectively.

The vertical tension shafts 22 and 23 are journaled in the bearings 20 and 21, respectively, and are also suitably journaled at their lower ends in the base blocks 17 and 18, respectively. The worm gears 2% and 25 are secured tothe lower ends of said shafts and are respectively engaged by the worms 26 and 27 on a horizontal drive shaft ment 28. Said drive shaft is in turn journaled to the base block 17 by the journals 29 and 30 and is journaled to the base block 18 by the journals 31 and 32.

The vertical shafts 22 and 23 are provided at their upper and lower ends with the threads 33 and 34, respectively, said threads being of reversed pitch, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5. The upper and lower press heads 35 and 36 are provided, the same spanning the distance between the shafts 22 and 23. Each of these heads preferably includes a pair of I-beams 37 and 38 spaced apart a sufiicient distance to embrace the vertical shafts and thread blocks between them.

The end portions of the I-beams for the upper and lower press heads are preferably formed of rectangular castings 39 and 10. These castings are provided with horizontal transverse openings 5L1 for the accommodation of the end portions of the f-beams and are also provided with vertical central openings 12 for the accommodation of the tension shafts. Preferably a threaded block 43 is seated into each of the openings 4C2, said block having a flange 44 which seats into a suitable recess in the face portion of the end block itself. The flanges and shoulders just referred to are relatively so positioned that the tension necessary to draw the upper end lower heads towards each other will be preferably communicated to the end blocks.

The pile of veneer boards being operated upon may be placed directly between the I- beams of the upper and lower press heads, but ordinarily use will be made of a series of short transverse I-beams 1-5, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 in particular. These transverse beams will bear directly against a relatively thick board 16 at the top or bottom of the pile as the case may be so as to distribute the layer evenly over the entire area thereof.

As a matter of convenience, in manipulation, it is preferred that the lower press head 36 carry a pair of transverse beams 47 and 18, respectively, a series of rollers 49 being journaled in each of said beams. These beams are shallower than the transverse beams 45 already referred to, so that a certain amount of movement of the beams 47 and 48 together with their rollers is allowed for within the confines of the beams 4&5.

The beams 47 and 4&8 are carried by brackets 50 on the upper end of pins 51, said pins 51 being slidably mounted within bracket blocks 52 which are secured to the press head beams 37 and 38, respectively. Springs 53 are provided which raise the brackets 50 and beams 47 and 48 under spring tension a distance which is limited by the nuts 54 on the lower ends of the pins 51. The adjustshould be made in such a way that lifi liii) when fully lifted the rollers '49 will project a slight distance above the topedges of the beams 37 and 38, as indicated in Fig. 7. Under these circumstances, when the press heads are separated from each othera pile of veneer boards may be run into position on top of the rollers l9 and held in such position until the press heads are drawn together. Thereupon, the springs 52- will be compressed until the transverse beams of the lower press head have been forced into direct engagement with the pile of veneer boards, as indicated in Fig. 1. When this takes place the direct pressure of the heads will be exerted on the veneer boards themselves.

i The beams 37 and 38 of the upper and lower press heads are so mounted within the resp ctive end blocks 39 and 40 as to provide for a certain, amount of tilting of the beams with respect to said end blocks. This .is provided by reason of the fact that the openings in the blocks 39 and 40 are large enough to allow a slight tilting of the I- beams, and the bearing surfaces of the blocks are curved, as indicated at 56 in Fig. 4, to provide the parts to tilt slightly for adjustment purposes. In the above connection, it is noted that the bearing surfaces of the upper blocks 39 are at the top sides of the openings, Whereas the bearing surfaces for the lower blocks 40 are at the bottom sides of the openings thereof.

A drive shaft 28 carrying the worms 26 and 27 preferably reaches beyond the base block 18 and carries a pair of sprockets 57 and 58 on its projecting portion. The projecting portion of this shaft isalso preferably journaled in an outboard bearing 59. This bearing is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as being carried by a sidewise projecting "ase section 60. r

A driving motor 61 is mounted above the base section and drives a jack shaft 62 through the medium of sprockets (32-3 and 64 and a chain 65. The parts are preferably designed to give a substantial gear reduc tion at this point. The jack shaft 62 is adapted to drive either of the sprockets 66 and 67 under control of suitableclutches 68 and 69, which clutches are operated'by a hand lever 70 pivoted to the projecting base men'iber at the point 71. By swinging the hand lever to one side or the other with respect to the neutral position, illustrated in h" 3, one or the other of the clutch members will be brought into operation so as to lock the corresponding sprocket 66 or 67, as the case may be, to the jack shaft 62.

The sprockets 66 and 67 are drivingly connected to the main shaft 28 by sprockets 57 and 58, respectively, and the chains 7% and 75, respectively. Preferably, the'gear ratios between the sprockets 66' and 57 and the sprockets 67 and 58 are different, a1-

' and '78 which stand upwardly a sufiicient distance, so that the control stand will clear thejack shaft and clutch devices. In the construction"illustrated the motor itself is also'ca 'ried immediately -behind the control stand and is also supported by these brackets 77 and 78. I

The control stand includes a circuit controller 7 9 having a control handle 80 which can be swung either side of the central :position depending upon the desired direction of rotation of the motor. motor forward, the press heads are forced together, whereas by reversing the motor the press heads are drawn apart.

The control stand also includes an in strument 81 which may be graduatedtoindicate the amount of pressure exerted be tween the press headseither directly in-total pounds, or in pounds .per square foot, or in an'iperes. Preferably, the instrument is graduated to read aniperes as well as total pressure.

The control stand also preferably includes a control box 82 having a control handle83 by means of which a variable rheostat within the box is controlled sons to control the maximum pressure which can be eiterted .by the motor. When this'limit is reached the motor will automatically stop and thus automatically limit thepr'essure delivered to the pile. The rheestat may he graduated, as indicated at 84;, corresponding to ,the graduations on the instrument 81, so that the operator'can set the pointerof the control handle 83 to the desired maximum pressure which he wishes to exert; and when this pressure is reached the motor will stop automatically, and theinst-rument 81 will at the same time indicate the corresponding pressure.

If desired, an overload relay 85 may also be placed on the control stand so as to automatically open the'circuit in case of ab normal "current being fed to the motor. Also a pushbutton switch 86 may be placed on the stand, the same having the start and stop buttons 87 and 88, respectively.

In order to'limit the travels of thepress heads toward and from each other, I have provided ail-automaticswitch 89, thesame being conveniently inoiinted'on the upper end of the standlQ. This switch preferably includes two switch elements 90 and, 91 placed side by side and both of them being connected in series with the main electric circuit by suitable conductors located in a hen running the conduit 92 reaching across from the switch elements to the control stand.

These switch elements include fingers 93 and 94, respectively, both of which project towards the tension shaft 23. The finger 93 carries a downwardly depending rod 95, the lower end of which reaches through an eye 96 of the lower press head block 10 and carries a nut 97 which can be set into the desired position. As soon as the lower head block 10 descends suliiciently low the eye 96 will engage the nut 97 and draw the linger 93 down so as to open the circuit.

The other linger 9st carries a roller 98, and a bar 99 is secured to the block 39 of the upper press head in such a position that when said head has moved down sufiicently, it will engage the roller 98 and thus trip the switch element 91. The opening of either switch element opens the circuit. In this way danger from excessive movement is eliminated.

Referring to Fig. 6, I will explain the electric circuit therein; but manifestly many other arrangements of electric circuit might be substituted in place of the one particularly illustrated. In this circuit the motor 61, is shown as a three phase alternating current induction motor. The incoming three phase wires 100, 101 and 102 are brought directly to the control switch 7 9. One of the legs 103 of the three phase circuit is led through the pressure indicator 81 to the motor and the other legs are led to the control box 85. From this control box suitable circuits are carried to the push button station 86 and to the motor. This control box 85 may be of any standard form, such as a standard magnetic starter of the W'estinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.

The automatic cut out switches 90 and 91 are shown as connected in series with each other and with one of the legs of the circuit passing through the push button station.

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, I have therein illustrated the manner in which a pile of boards may be clamped together so as to retain them under pressure after the press heads of the veneer press itself have been released. For this purpose, use is made of a series of tension bars 104: each comprising upper and lower sections 105 and 106 joined together by a turn buckle 107. The outer ends of the sections 105 and 106 are bifurcated and hooked, as shown at 108, so that they can be slipped over the flanges of the bars so as to hold them under the desired tension even after the pressure heads have been released.

It will be understood that while I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of my present invention, and also only a single wiring circuit for controlling the operation, etc., nevertheless, I do not intend to limit myself to the same, except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of upper and lower vertically movable press heads, vertical tension shafts adjacent to the ends thereof, said shafts having their end portions in oppositely threaded engagement with the adjacent press head ends whereby simultaneous rotation of both shafts causes movement of the press heads towards or from each. other, an electric motor, a ack shaft operatively connected thereto, a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted on the jack shaft, a drive shaft.

driving connections therefrom to both of the tension shafts, driving connections of unequal gear ratio from both of the sprockets to the drive shaft, clutch mechanism between the jack shaft and each sprocket enabling said sprockets to be selectively connected to the jack shaft, and suitable electric circuits for control of the motor including a reversing switch permitting re versal of motor direction, a magnetic limit switch adapted to open the circuit upon the flow of current in excess of a predetermined amount, an indicator operable according to volume of current delivered to the motor, and having its scale suitably graduated to indicate pressure exerted between the press heads, together with limit switches operable to open the motor circuit at extreme limits of movement of the press heads towards and from each other, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of upper and lower vertically movable press heads, vertical tension shafts adjacent to the ends thereof, said shafts having their end portions in oppositely threaded engagement with the adjacent press head ends whereby simultaneous rotation of both shafts causes movement of the press heads towards or from each other, an electric motor, a drive shaft, driving connections therefrom to both of the tension shafts, operative connections from the electric motor to the drive shaft, clutch devices in said connections, and suitable electric circuits for control of the motor including a reversing switch permit-ting reversal of motor direction, a magnetic limit switch adapted to open the circuit upon the flow of current in excess of a predetermined amount, an indicator operable according to volume of current delivered to the motor and having it scale suitably graduated to indicate pressure exerted between the press heads, together with limit switches operable to open the motor circuit at extreme limits of movement of the press heads towards and from each other, substantially as described. 3. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of. upper and lower vertically movable press heads, vertical tension shafts acent to the ends thereof, said shafts having their end portions in oppositely threaded engagement with the adjacent press head ends whereby simultaneous rotation of both shafts causes movement of the press heads towards or from each other, an electric motor, a drive shaft, driving connections therefrom to both of the tension shafts, operative connections from the electric motor to the drive shaft, clutch devices in said connections, and suitable electric circuits for control of the motor including a reversing switch permitting reversal of motor dircction, a magnetic limit switch adapted to open the circuit upon the flow of current in excess of a predetermined amount, and an indicator operable according to volume of current delivered to the motor and having its scale suitably graduated to indicate pressure exerted between the press heads, substantially as described.

4-. In a machine of the class described, the combination of upper and lower vertically movable press heads, vertical tension shafts adjacent to the ends thereof, said shafts having their end portions in oppositely threaded engagement with the adjacent press head ends whereby simultaneous rotation of both shafts causes movement of the press heads towards or from each other, an electric motor, a drive shaft, driving connections therefrom to both of the tension shafts, operative connections from the electric motor to the drive shaft, clutch devices in said connections, and suitable electric circuits for control of the motor including a magnetic limit switch adapted to open the circuit upon the flow of current in excess of a predetermined amount, an indicator operabi'e according to volume of current delivered to the motor and having its scale suitably graduated to indicate pressure exerted between the press heads, together with limit switches operable to open the motor circuit at extreme limits of movement of the press heads towards and from each other, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of upper and lower vertically movable press heads, vertical tension shafts adjacent to the ends thereof, said shafts having their end portions in oppositely threaded engagement with the adjacent press head ends whereby simultaneous rotation of both shafts causes movement of the press heads towards or from each other, an electric motor, a driven shaft, driving connections therefrom to both of the tension shafts, operative connections from the electric motor to the drive shaft, clutch devices in said connections, and suitable electric circuits for control of the motor including a magnetic limitswitch adapted to open the circuit upon the flow of current in excess of a predetermined amount, an in dicator operable according to volume of current delivered to the motor and. having its scale suitably graduated to indicate pressure exerted between the press heads, substantially as described.

6. in a machine of the class described, the combination of upper and lower verti- (rally movable press heads, vertical tension shafts adjacent to the ends thereof, said shafts having their end portions in oppositely thr aded engagement with the adjacent press head ends whereby simultaneous rotation of both shafts causes movement of the press heads towards or from each other, an electric motor, a drive shaft, driving connections therefrom to both of the tension shafts, operative connections from the electric motor to the drive shaft, clutch devices in said connections, and suitable electric circuits for control of the motor including an indicator operable according to volume of current delivered to the motor and having its scale suitably graduated to indicate pressure exerted between the press heads, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of upper and lower vertically movable press heads, an electric motor, operative connections therefrom to both press heads operable to move the press heads toward or from each other selectively under control of the operator, and suitable electric circuits for control of the motor including a reversing switch permitting reversal of motor direction, a magnetic limit switch adapted to open the circuit upon the flow of current in excess of a predetermined amount, an indicator operable according to volume of current delivered to the motor and having its scale suitably graduated to indicate pressure exerted between the press heads, together with limit switches operable to open the motor circuit at extreme limits of movements toward and from each other, substantially described.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of upper and lower vertically movable press heads, an electric motor, operative connections therefrom to both press heads operable to move the press heads toward and from each other selectively under control of the operator, and suitable electric switches for control of the motor including a reversing switch permitting reversal of motor direction, a magnetic limit switch adapted to open the circuit upon the flow of current in excess of a predetermined amount, and an indicator operable according to volume of current delivered to the motor and having its scale suitably graduated'to indicate pressure exerted between the press heads, substantially as described.

9. In a machine pf the class described,

the combination of upper and lower vertically movable press heads, an electric motor, operative connections therefrom to both press heads operable to move the press heads towards or from each other selectively under control of the operator, and suitable electric circuits for control of the motor including an indicator operable according to volume of current delivered to the motor and having its scale suitably graduated to indicate pressure exerted between the press heads, substantially as described.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of upper and lower vertically movable press heads, an electric motor, operative connections therefrom to both press heads operable to move the press heads towards or from each other selectively under control of the operator, and suitable electric circuits including an indicator operable according to volume of current delivered to the motor and having its scale suitably graduated, substantially as described.

JOHN E. BLACK. 

